Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most beloved authors of the 20th century, and for good reason. It’s no wonder that his works have been sought after for adaptation, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting. Emphasize “sought after” because not many of his novels or short stories have actually made it to the big screen. Vonnegut’s stories are often sarcastic, time-hopping, told from the first person, and uniquely bleak… but also hilarious. His specifically strange brand of sci-fi, comedy, and satire has long been a tough cookie to crumble over onto film, like Cat’s Cradle.

As one of the flagship novels in his bibliography, unabashedly represents all of these attributes in ways that make it one of the most “Vonnegut” novels there is. It’s an odd choice on Hollywood’s part to adapt, not only in a business sense, but because it also feels like one of the remaining novels left that is still unable to be adapted for the screen.

‘Cat’s Cradle’ Might Be Kurt Vonnegut’s Best Book

Cat’s Cradle is a 1963 postmodern satire, written by the late great Kurt Vonnegut. The film follows Felix Hoenikker and a group of scientists as they navigate life after the invention of ice-nine, a substance that could freeze the entire planet. The novel is bleakly comical, absurd, and hits some of its commentaries pretty hard on the nose, but it also has its moments of subtlety. That’s just how Vonnegut operates, though. He knows that he gets in his audience’s face with social and political commentary, but any time it’s on the nose, it’s to get a laugh. Cat’s Cradle is one of those Vonnegut books, though. It’s like the even more well-known Slaughterhouse-Five in that it has actual statements that it’s trying to make. Kurt Vonnegut is a funny guy, but when he wants to make an actual point about something, he does so like a gut punch. There’s a reason that he’s largely considered one of the greatest authors of his time. It’s because he can do it all!

There’s a good argument to be made that Cat’s Cradle is Vonnegut’s best book. It’s a sprawling epic that manages to fit a ridiculous amount of subplots, ideas, and themes into one pretty tight story. When there’s this much going on, it’d probably be preferred if the book was able to breathe a bit more (it’s only a little over 300 pages) and let these ideas expand upon themselves more naturally. There’s a case to be made that this is where a format like a TV show could benefit the source material.

That being said, that’s kind of its charm. Heavy subjects are brought up and briefly touched upon, usually with some degree of humor, then we move on to the next thing. It makes for a bit of a disorienting experience with how quickly we move from scene to scene, but that also adds to the framing device that the story is being told in flashback. It really does feel like you’re reading a memory.

What Is Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Cat’s Cradle’ About?

Image via Holt, Rinehart and Winston

Given Cat’s Cradle’s odd narrative structure, its tendency to jump from plot point to plot point, and oddball, Vonnegut-ian sense of humor, it’s not ideal to say that the book is unadaptable… but it just might need to stay on the page. It’s not the book’s high-concept ideas that would be tough for audiences to swallow, but it’s the way that the author delivers them. Cat’s Cradle is fun because of how little time we spend on the detrimental choices made and events leading toward the post-apocalyptic setting that our narrator is in. If a movie or TV show tried to recreate that, there would probably be too much filler added, and the story’s breakneck pace would ultimately become diluted.

The novel’s sense of humor also wouldn’t likely translate well onto the screen. Not that the book is offensive or “couldn’t be made today” because of jokes that just didn’t age well. It’s just, you know, a Kurt Vonnegut novel! He makes light of things that are touchy subjects, like discussing what North American civilians were doing the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. This is done so in a way that comments on how unaware people can be of what their government is up to. (Either that or how they willingly turn a blind eye.) Other times, Vonnegut jokes around the parameters of philosophy and religion.

This is mostly explored through a fictional religion, Bokononism, a pretty hilarious concept that is practiced through extremely odd practices. For instance, boku-maru is an act of worship in Bokononism when two people press the exposed soles of their feet together for a long period of time. I don’t really know how you would get audiences on board with watching an adaptation of a novel that works so well because of how fast-paced it is, or how singular the author’s sense of humor is. This all just works best on the page.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Noah Hawley Want To Adapt ‘Cat’s Cradle’

Image via Paramount Pictures 

There have been multiple attempts to bring Cat’s Cradle to both the big and small screens. Elements of the novel were adapted for the 1972 TV movie Between Time and Timbuktu, a project that pulled from several different Kurt Vonnegut stories. Leonardo DiCaprio‘s production company attempted to adapt the book into a movie back in 2005, but the film never moved past the writing stages. Most recently, co-creator of the FX series Fargo, Noah Hawley, attempted to adapt Cat’s Cradle as a limited series. Like DiCaprio’s attempt before him, Hawley’s series remains unmade.

It’s tough to choose which project would do the novel justice best, but it’s safe to assume that a film would probably encapsulate the book’s spirit best. Vonnegut’s book is only 300-ish pages, so there’s likely not a lot that would need to be trimmed down to properly bring the story to life. The movie would require a truly gifted editor to try to make the movie properly flow, but at least its fast pace would be true to Vonnegut’s work. As stated before, a TV show would just stretch the story out too much, and it wouldn’t feel like Cat’s Cradle anymore.

Sure, it’d carry over characters like Jonah the narrator and Felix Hoenikker, on-screen practices of Bokononism, and some pretty interesting ice-nine visuals, but the bloat of a TV show would suck all the fun out of it. Cat’s Cradle is the perfect novel for those looking to get Vonnegut’s trademark sense of humor and philosophy in rapid fire. There’s no need to drag it out in 10 episodes over 10 hours. That being said, if someone did make this movie, please make it Yorgos Lanthimos!

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“So it goes.”

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Cat’s Cradle just might be Kurt Vonnegut’s best book, but that doesn’t mean it should also be adapted for film. Some novels can survive the process of being brought off the page and adapted to the screen, while others are successful narratives because of the medium in which they reside. We do need more adaptations of Kurt Vonnegut’s books (Deadeye Dick and Galápagos, please), but let’s also be real about which ones will work the best. It’s an easy answer, but a book that might be more feasible to adapt would be his most widely known work, Slaughterhouse-Five.

It’s a similarly fast, heavy-handed, hilarious read, with an even more unconventional narrative structure, but it’s also a more cinematic book. Yeah, there was already a movie made in 1972, but let’s give that one another go, and if it’s successful, we can talk about making other Vonnegut movies. In the meantime, how about we leave Cat’s Cradle on the bookshelf? Is that too much to ask?

Things appear to be tense between Lydia Plath and her family in the Welcome to Plathville season 8 trailer.

“Everyone is stepping into a whole new chapter in their lives,” Lydia, 22, says in the clip that dropped on Monday, March 2.

The trailer then cuts to a family dinner between the Plath family including Lydia, husband Zac Wyse and Kim Plath. (Lydia is one of Kim, 53, and Barry Plath’s nine children, including Ethan, 27, Hosana, 26, Micah, 24, Moriah, 23, Isaac, 20, Amber, 17, Cassia, 14, and Mercy, 13.)

While gathering at the table, Kim hints that the family had the potential to expand.

Related: Lydia Plath Had Her ‘Wedding Date Planned’ Before Husband Zac Wyse Proposed

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“There’s no telling how many people will be here next year,” Kim says, and when the subject of babies is brought up, Lydia replies, “You never know.”

Kim, who split from ex-husband Barry in 2022, jokes that she’s “not out of the race yet” to have another child. Zac, 21, shares in a confessional he didn’t want to speak about his “mother-in-law’s fertility.”

While things seemed amicable between Lydia and Kim during the group meal, Barry tells the camera that the mother-daughter duo has experienced tension in recent times.

“There’s healing that’s needed between Lydia and Kim,” Barry says.

The trailer flashes forward to a conversation between Kim and Lydia addressing their issues.

“You and I used to be really close before the divorce,” Kim tells her daughter while Lydia responds, “Whenever I would talk to you, it just felt like I was talking to a brick wall.”

In a confessional, Lydia opens up about her family seemingly hinting at the tension between the Plaths and Zac. (Kim and other members of the family previously claimed that Zac was “controlling” over Lydia. Lydia’s brother Ethan also asked Zac about his sexual orientation after proposing to Lydia)

“I’ve been angry,” Lydia tearfully says. “I’ve been really upset at my family for what they did.”

The screen flashes to Kim, who tells the camera that she thinks Lydia and Zac are “wanting apologies” following the drama. When asked if she was going to apologize for her part in the tension, Kim seemingly wavered.

“I don’t know,” Kim replied.

Zac shares in a confessional that he knows there’s only so much he and Lydia can do when it comes to her family.

“We’re going to control what we can control,” he says. “But their reactions, we can’t control.”

At some point in the season, Lydia and Zac have a sit down with the members of the Plath family. Lydia then warns her family there will be consequences if the drama continues.

Related: ‘Welcome to Plathville’ Recap: Ethan Is Wary Over Lydia’s ‘Shotgun Wedding’

Ethan Plath wasn’t sure of sister Lydia Plath’s whirlwind romance during the Welcome to Plathville season 7 premiere — especially after his own marriage ended in divorce. The Tuesday, July 22, premiere focused on new beginnings for the Plath family. Ethan, 27, and sister Moriah Plath were newly single when the cameras picked back up […]

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“If I find out that there’s still gossiping about Zac and I, I will not tolerate it,” Lydia declares.

Lydia and Zac tied the knot in February 2025, two months after getting engaged. The couple had their first kiss during their nuptials.

“We saved our FIRST KISS for our wedding day!😘,” Lydia wrote via Instagram in August 2025 addressing why she and Zac chose to wait to have their first kiss. “It’s really saddening to see how that is taken such the wrong way in this day and age. Instead of people seeing how honoring and selfless that was of my husband, they assume we just weren’t attracted to each other. QUITE THE OPPOSITE!”

Welcome to Plathville season 8 premieres on TLC on Tuesday, March 31, at 10 p.m. ET.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 14 seconds ago

It’s one of the most successful movie franchises in history. The search for its leads was the most anticipated Hollywood casting since Gone with the Wind. By almost every metric of success, 2015’s Fifty Shades of Grey is an incredible phenomenon.

The book, written by E. L. James, put self-publishing on the map and launched the rise of e-books, making it one of the most culturally significant books of the 21st century. Star Trek is less popular. Stargate has never been this popular. And yet, Fifty Shades of Grey is a punchline. For all its success, it’s a horrible movie, which makes it perfect for binging on Netflix in the privacy of your home, where no one needs to know.

The Most Successful Fan Fiction In History

Fifty Shades of Grey started life as Twilight fan fiction. Anastasia Steele, played by Dakota Johnson, was originally Bella Swan, and Christian Grey, brought to life by a sleepwalking Jamie Dornan, was Edward Cullen. Instead of vampires and werewolves, the film is about book publishing, a lonely billionaire, and “BDSM” (Bondage, Domination, Sadism, Masochism). The quotes are necessary because, as the kink community was quick to point out, the novel and the movie are about as accurate to BDSM as Hackers was to computers.

Hackers is a ’90s classic for a reason, and Fifty Shades of Grey was a massive hit not because of its accurate portrayal of consenting adults, but because it was unabashedly pure smut. The film has a plot, but it’s mostly an excuse to get to the next scene of Christian introducing Anastasia to his unique tastes. Actually, if the film had spent more time focused on the kink and less on the relationship, it could have been Secretary for a new generation, instead of spotlighting the most toxic relationship since Joker and Harley.

50 Shades Of Grey Started A Revolution

Christian is every stereotype of a dominating, rich billionaire: he’s stoic, he doesn’t understand boundaries, and he thinks a signed contract will solve everything. Anastasia is naive, and though this isn’t mentioned, she’s colorblind and thinks red flags are green flags. A lot of ink has been spilled over the last decade about the problematic plot of Fifty Shades of Grey, and none of it will stop fans from streaming it on Netflix this month.

Fifty Shades of Grey was released at the perfect point in time, after Twilight’s peak and exactly when e-readers were starting to hit the mass market. Readers could be reading anything on their tablet, Nook, etc., and no one would know it was the dirtiest, nastiest, darkest romance imaginable. To that end, E. L. James’s breakout feels quaint compared to the current rise of dark romantasy novels, thousands of which manage to be just as hot and sexy but feature better relationship dynamics and show more respect for the kink community.

The two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, are also on Netflix, but neither one is as fun as the first. All told, the entire trilogy earned over $1 billion at the box office. For all the jokes and ridicule the movies have received, that sort of money makes them the type of hit Hollywood wishes they could produce today.

After twenty years, there are still episodes of Scrubs that hurt to remember, and “My Lunch,” Season 5, Episode 20, is at the top of the list. Originally airing on April 25, 2006, its transplant storyline looks set to be a Sacred Heart success, but by the end of the episode, the story has broken both characters and viewers alike.

“My Lunch” looks set to revisit patient Jill Tracy (Nicole Sullivan) after J.D. (Zach Braff) and Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) bump into her at the supermarket, but it evolves into a catastrophic medical tragedy that permanently alters Cox and momentarily reverses the central mentor-mentee dynamic between him and J.D. It’s an episode packed with drama, heart, and humor in equal measure, and aside from “My Finale: Part 2,” it stands as the highest-rated episode of the series on IMDb. If you’re going to revisit any episode ahead of the Scrubs revival, let it be “My Lunch.”

J.D. and Dr. Cox Realize Jill’s Tragic Circumstances Too Late in “My Lunch”

Image via NBC

The unexpected center of “My Lunch” is Jill Tracy, who has been a recurring patient since her first appearance in “My Nickname” in Season 1. Over the years, she popped up in six episodes across five seasons, recognizable for her rapid speech, chaotic love life, and almost painful lack of social awareness. She was the memorable comic relief, but her life was tinged with loneliness. Jill was the kind of patient who lingered too long in conversations and overshared too much information, especially with Elliot (Sarah Chalke).

In “My Lunch,” she unexpectedly collides with J.D. and Cox at the supermarket during their break. She has been stood up for a date and returns two days in a row, hoping the man might finally appear. J.D. also returns to buy lunch again and tries his best to ignore her, but it becomes clear that she has no one else to call, nowhere else to be. J.D. contorts himself to avoid her, and Dr. Cox zooms, cartoon-style, back to the hospital to escape. On the second day, J.D. agrees to sit with her for lunch, but his effort is dutiful as a doctor rather than with genuine interest. The comedy in these scenes is classic Scrubs, awkward and absurd, which is exactly what makes the episode’s later turn hit so hard.

The brilliance of “My Lunch” lies in how it aligns the audience with J.D.’s discomfort. Jill is presented as exhausting. Meanwhile, a far more urgent storyline is unfolding at Sacred Heart. Three critically ill patients are awaiting organ transplants under Dr. Cox’s supervision. The episode makes us root for a patient to die to provide the three organs needed for the central transplant patients. However, it turns into a gut-punch when J.D. realizes it is Jill who was admitted to the hospital unconscious after an apparent drug overdose. Hours earlier, J.D. and Cox were complaining about her, and now she appears to have killed herself. J.D. is devastated, not only because she is dying, but because he realizes she was clearly a person in need of connection, and he chose his own convenience over kindness.

Dr. Cox responds in a way we have come to expect. Whenever J.D. is having an emotional moment, Perry steps up and makes it a hard but important lesson. He takes J.D. to lunch and explains that he cannot carry every tragedy. Jill did not come to the hospital seeking help. Doctors cannot assume responsibility for every lonely soul they encounter outside their walls. It is a lesson in compartmentalization, and we can see how Cox has used that as his own survival mechanism. When Jill is declared brain-dead, her organs are found to be viable matches for the three transplant patients. In an episode that seems steeped in loss, this feels like a redemptive moment for J.D. and Dr. Cox.

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“My Lunch’s” Third Act Turns Everything We Know About ‘Scrubs’ on Its Head

In the final third of “My Lunch,” it is revealed that Jill did not die from an overdose as assumed. She died of rabies. Rabies is extraordinarily rare, and testing for it under the time constraints the doctors faced would have been impractical, as three patients were waiting for organs. Sadly, by the time the truth is discovered, the transplanted organs have already infected the three recipients. Despite every effort, the first two patients die, and Dr. Cox retreats to the break room, visibly upset. For five seasons, he has been the unshakable force of Sacred Heart, abrasive and ranting, but a brilliant doctor. Watching him sit in stunned silence is unsettling, and J.D., who hours earlier was drowning in guilt over Jill, now finds himself in the unfamiliar position of offering perspective to his mentor. J.D. tells Cox that the patients were critically ill, and they would have died within hours without the transplants. He admits that he would have made the same decision.

As they sit down to eat lunch again, Dr. Cox is paged. The third transplant patient, the one he was closest to, has crashed. Cox’s resuscitation efforts fail, and that patient dies as well. He is visibly angry and confesses that the third patient was not in immediate critical need, and the transplant could have waited another month. The first two deaths were tragic but a gamble he had to make, but the third feels like it was his fault. Earlier in the episode, Dr. Cox told J.D. that once you blame yourself, there is no coming back from it, so “newbie” reminds him of this. Cox agrees and walks out before his shift is over.

Dr. Perry Cox, the series’ most unshakable character, suffers a genuine emotional collapse in “My Lunch.” In subsequent episodes, Carla (Judy Reyes), Jordan (Christa Miller), and the rest of the Sacred Heart staff attempt to coax him back to work as he isolates at home, drinking beer. The emotional power of “My Lunch” endures, making it that much stronger of an episode. With the revival on the horizon, there is no better episode to revisit. The episode is a clear reminder that Scrubs was never just about silly cutaways but real human drama.

Anyone who’s shopped markdown sections knows the challenge of digging through a jumble of trends and colors to find pieces you’ll wear over and over. As spring begins and our closets get a revamp, we’re looking to Nordstrom’s sales section for elevated essentials that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. Right now, the retailer’s markdowns are made up of plenty of versatile styles that never get discounted — but, surprisingly, are finally on sale now.

Luckily for you, we found a range of standout essentials and everyday pieces to love. We’ve got our eyes on chic ballet flats from Cole Haan and stylish jackets from Lauren Ralph Lauren that are so classic and timeless, we couldn’t believe they were marked down! Below, discover the top pieces from rich mom staples to office-friendly separates that will earn their place in your wardrobe this season and even more seasons to come.

Designer Pieces Majorly Marked Down at Nordstrom

1. Take up to 60% off Coach

Our Pick: The two-toned hardware on this metal Coach bangle brings the subtle style a cool, elevated finish that can be mixed and matched in any jewelry stack.

Check out all Coach deals included in the sale here!

2. Take up to 72% off Vince Camuto

Our Pick: When it comes to blouses, this Vince Camuto top is perfect for everyday wear. Its light fabric and pretty ruffles look elegant and expensive, despite its 50% markdown.

Check out all Vince Camuto deals included in the sale here!

3. Take up to 50% off Adidas

Our Pick: Suede sneakers are a must-have for everyday wear, like this Adidas pair. The style comes in a wide range of colors, all grounded by practical rubber soles.

Check out all Adidas deals included in the sale here!

4. Take up to 60% off Tory Burch

Our Pick: These chic Tory Burch slides are crafted from smooth leather, with lightweight soles and stitched monograms for a practical and detailed finish.

Check out all Tory Burch deals included in the sale here!

5. Take up to 60% off Levi’s 

Our Pick: Levi’s is known for denim, but the brand also makes stylish outerwear like this faux leather bomber jacket. The soft, relaxed style is perfect for layering and is marked down by 33% right now.

Check out all Levi’s deals included in the sale here! 

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Related: From Coach to Madewell, the Best Rich Mom Fashion Deals Are Under $100

Who says you have to live in an expensive zip code to channel rich mom energy? The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (happening now through August 3) is packed with stylish deals that prove otherwise. From slouchy designer bags to flattering jeans, these sale picks bring their quiet, confident and well-dressed energy — without the five-figure price […]

6. Take up to 62% off ASTR the Label 

Our Pick: Dress up your midseason outfits with a midi skirt like this ASTR the Label style. The pull-on piece has an elegant, flowing silhouette that’s a major steal with its 60% markdown.

Check out all ASTR the Label deals included in the sale here! 

7. Take up to 85% off Good American 

Our Pick: This lightweight Good American blazer means business with its tailored, stretchy silhouette. At 56% off, it affordably makes a fashionable statement in and out of the office.

Check out all Good American deals included in the sale here! 

8. Take up to 60% off Karl Lagerfeld Paris

Our Pick: Soft, fluffy faux fur is given an approachable twist from this Karl Lagerfeld Paris jacket, a zip-up style that’s elevated by a classic collar — plus, it’s currently 40% off.

Check out all Karl Lagerfeld Paris deals included in the sale here! 

9. Take up to 78% off Jeffrey Campbell

Our Pick: Whether you’re leading work meetings or on a date night, these Jeffrey Campbell pumps are sophisticated and effortless while sitting at an approachable height.

Check out all Jeffrey Campbell deals included in the sale here! 

10. Take up to 60% off Commando

Our Pick: This faux leather Commando knee-length skirt is perfect for day-to-night wear. Hailing from the female-founded brand loved by Kendall Jenner and Meg Ryan, the style features comfortable built-in shorts for extra support while remaining sleek and sharp.

Check out all Commando deals included in the sale here! 

11. Take up to 60% off Cole Haan

Our Pick: If you need a perfect flat for spring, look no further than this sweet suede Cole Haan style that’s accented by elegant bows.

Check out all Cole Haan deals included in the sale here! 

12. Take up to 72% off AllSaints

Our Pick: This long-sleeved AllSaints T-shirt is made with soft cotton for a smooth feel and fit, creating a perfect layering base.

Check out all AllSaints deals included in the sale here! 

13. Take up to 70% off Dolce Vita

Our Pick: Everyone needs an everyday bag like this Dolce Vita shoulder bag. The roomy, expandable style easily carries all of your essentials and comes in versatile neutral colors that complement any outfit.

Check out all Dolce Vita deals included in the sale here! 

14. Take up to 70% off Lauren Ralph Lauren

Our Pick: From work to nights out, this timeless Lauren Ralph Lauren cotton-blend coat is a wardrobe classic that’s elevated by a chic attached belt and buttoned cuffs.

Check out all Lauren Ralph Lauren deals included in the sale here! 

15. Take up to 60% off Pistola

Our Pick: With classic stripes and clean neutral tones, this Pistola cotton sweater makes a subtly detailed layering piece you’ll reach for over and over again.

Check out all Pistola deals included in the sale here! 

16. Take up to 60% off French Connection

Our Pick: Elevate your cold-weather wardrobe with this effortless French Connection sweater dress. The knit style’s maxi silhouette and soft fabric make it sophisticated, cozy and easy to dress up or down.

Check out all French Connection deals included in the sale here! 

17. Take up to 50% off Jessica Simpson

Our Pick: These breezy Jessica Simpson sandals include thick block heels and platform soles for a fashion-forward height boost. Knotted straps bring a hint of bohemian glamour, a bonus alongside their under-$50 price tag.

Check out all Jessica Simpson deals included in the sale here! 

Related: This Katie Holmes-Loved Sneaker Brand Just Dropped Exclusive Styles at Nordstrom

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There’s nothing like the relief of slipping into comfortable, stylish sneakers. Celebrities like Katie Holmes and Nicky Hilton Rothschild have all been spotted wearing classic Adidas sneakers, and the celebrity-loved brand teamed up with Nordstrom to release a limited edition collection. The new styles include updated colorways and trendy silhouettes, ranging from the beloved Samba to […]

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Black Mirror is arguably one of Netflix’s biggest hits, both in the realm of science fiction shows and the streamer’s slate of original programming. Most of its episodes, which tackle everything from the pitfalls of artificial intelligence to how social media is becoming entwined with our lives, have received critical praise and even awards nominations. Series creator Charlie Brooker recently confirmed that Black Mirror will be returning for Season 8, meaning that sci-fi fans will be in for more chilling tales about technology. Long before it was a mainstay in Netflix queues, Black Mirror started out life on cable television — specifically, Channel 4.

Brooker launched Black Mirror after working on comedy-based shows for other British channels, and decided to take his talents in the opposite direction with an anthology drama series. He cites The Twilight Zone as his biggest influence, specifically how Rod Serling would use science fiction and fantasy as a metaphor for real-life issues:

“In Serling’s day, the atom bomb, civil rights, McCarthyism, psychiatry and the space race were of primary concern. Today he’d be writing about terrorism, the economy, the media, privacy and our relationship with technology…That’s what we’re aiming for with Black Mirror: each episode has a different cast, a different setting, even a different reality. But they’re all about the way we live now – and the way we might be living in 10 minutes’ time if we’re clumsy.”

While Black Mirror is primarily a sci-fi series, it still keeps the wicked streak of black humor that permeates Brooker’s earlier work. Case in point: the premiere episode, “The National Anthem”, has a member of the Royal Family kidnapped and the only way for her to be freed is if the Prime Minister commits a lewd act with a pig. It was both a sign that Black Mirror was going to be unlike anything on TV, and foreshadowed why it moved to Netflix.

Budget Issues Led to Netflix Picking Up ‘Black Mirror’

Image via Netflix

Black Mirror was able to score two seasons on Channel 4, and received equal parts praise and complaints, due to the aforementioned season premiere. It was even one of the most complained-about shows of 2011, which is an honor that’s rather fitting for the series. Yet Charlie Brooker and his producing partner Annabel Jones were told by Channel 4 that Black Mirror was facing budget restraints, and needed a co-producer to continue. This led to a bidding war involving different cable networks, including HBO and AMC, yet Netflix won out at the last minute.

The Netflix deal included a bigger budget and a bigger range of guest stars for Black Mirror. It also led to some of the show’s most iconic episodes, particularly Season 3’s “San Junipero” and Season 4’s “U.S.S. Callister“. Moving to Netflix also gave Brooker the freedom to push the series’ boundaries, including basing each season around a different theme and even releasing an interactive film with Bandersnatch. Such attempts wouldn’t have been possible on Channel 4, but Brooker was determined to make the most of his deal with Netflix, and it paid off in waves.

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‘Black Mirror’ Was One of Netflix’s Biggest Success Stories

Black Mirror‘s biggest claim to fame is that it arguably helped cement Netflix, and the idea of streaming, as a major force in the entertainment world when its third season premiered in 2016. Not only did 2016 mark the debut of fellow sci-fi hit Stranger Things, but it was also when the streamer became available worldwide — allowing a larger audience to see more of its original programming and the films it had acquired. This meant that Black Mirror had the kind of reach that wouldn’t have been available on Channel 4, allowing it to transcend from a cult hit to a smash hit nearly overnight.

While people will no doubt be tuning into Black Mirror Season 8, a decade has once again changed how people watch television. Streaming services are getting more expensive, and cable is having a tough time as more people are deciding to cut the cord. It’s highly unlikely that Charlie Brooker could have made the same deal for Black Mirror now that he did then, but the series more than likely will keep its sharp edge when it returns for Season 8.

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Release Date

December 4, 2011

Network

Channel 4, Netflix

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Directors

Owen Harris, Toby Haynes, James Hawes, David Slade, Carl Tibbetts, Ally Pankiw, Bryn Higgins, Dan Trachtenberg, Euros Lyn, Jodie Foster, Joe Wright, John Hillcoat, Sam Miller, Tim Van Patten, Uta Briesewitz, Colm McCarthy, Jakob Verbruggen, James Watkins, John Crowley, Otto Bathurst, Anne Sewitsky, Brian Welsh

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Writers

Jesse Armstrong

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Hulu is starting the month of March in a good place, and hot off the heels of a successful revival of a classic show.

Scrubs is back for a brand new series on ABC, and that means it’s exclusively streaming on Hulu and climbing the charts.

That’s the only series on Watch With Us‘ picks for the three popular Hulu movies and TV shows to binge-watch this week.

Our other selections include a new science fiction movie and a Pixar film on loan from Disney+.

Related: New on Hulu in March 2026 — The Full List of Movies and TV Shows

It’s March, which means it’s Moira Rose’s favorite season — “awards.” The 98th Annual Academy Awards is scheduled to take place on March 15, and Hulu is celebrating all month long with a slew of great movies and series for your viewing pleasure. Watch With Us has compiled a complete list of the new movies […]

‘In the Blink of an Eye’ (2026)

Pixar’s Andrew Stanton, who directed classics like Finding Nemo and WALL-E, makes his second attempt at live-action with In the Blink of an Eye, an ambitious sci-fi that opens with the beginning of the universe and life as we know it. From there, it slows down quite a bit to focus on three different storylines. In the first, viewers are introduced to a Neanderthal family,  Thorn (Jorge Vargas) and Hera (Tanaya Beatty), as well as their daughter, Lark (Skywalker Hughes), and an infant child.

During the present-day sequences, anthropologist Claire (Rashida Jones) discovers bones that might belong to a member of the Neanderthal family while juggling relationship issues and a deep-seated sadness about the pending death of a loved one. And in the future, a woman named Coakley (Kate McKinnon) is charged with escorting embryos to humanity’s new home. How do these three tales link to one another thematically and otherwise? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out.

In the Blink of an Eye is streaming on Hulu.

‘Scrubs’ (2026)

Life comes at you fast in the new Scrubs revival. Fifteen years after leaving Sacred Heart Hospital, Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian (Zach Braff) is no longer married to the love of his life, Dr. Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke). J.D. has built his own life and charted his own career in medicine, which has now unexpectedly brought him back to Sacred Heart as the new Chief of Medicine and his ex-wife’s boss.

Related: Meet the ‘Scrubs’ Revival Cast — Including Alums From the Original Show

Most of the original Scrubs cast is reprising their roles for the highly anticipated revival — but who else is new to the show? Scrubs, which originally aired from 2001 to 2010, followed the lives of employees at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital. The hit series starred Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Judy Reyes, […]

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J.D. is delighted to be reunited with his best friend, Dr. Chris Turk (Donald Faison), and a lot of familiar faces from the first series. But now, J.D. has to navigate trickier subjects that won’t always make him popular among his staff. At the same time, J.D. and the other veterans have to train a new generation of doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart, most of whom may clash with their perspectives on just about everything.

Scrubs is streaming on Hulu.

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Computer animation has come a long way in the last three decades, but Toy Story was revolutionary when it hit theaters in 1995. Pixar delivered the first-ever feature-length 3D animated film, and it’s an all-time classic. Tom Hanks lends his voice to Woody, a cowboy doll who is comfortably assured of his place as the favorite toy of a young boy named Andy Davis (John Morris).

Any feeling of security goes out the window when Andy is gifted a new toy, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a Space Ranger who has no idea that he’s an action figure. Suddenly, Woody is shuffled to the side while Buzz becomes Andy’s new favorite. To reclaim his place in the toy hierarchy, Woody takes some drastic actions that may keep him and Buzz from ever seeing their friends again. If they want to make it back to Andy, Woody and Buzz will have to work together.

Toy Story is streaming on Hulu.

You might not usually like listening to music that’s many decades old, but even if that’s the case, there’s a not bad chance you make an exception for Fleetwood Mac. If not, that’s okay, but that guess/assumption is made because Fleetwood Mac feels particularly approachable for a pop/rock band of their era (when they were at their peak, in other words), and some of the band’s music is pretty close to timeless. In fact, they’ve got an entire album – 1977’s Rumours – that really does feel timeless from start to finish.

It’s boring to call it the band’s best album, but it is, though that’s not a suggestion that other memorable releases of Fleetwood Mac’s were bad or anything. There’s one other album of theirs included below, plus some other albums that might scratch the same itch. They’re broadly definable as rock, but often a mellower sort of rock, in line with the pop/soft rock sound of Rumours. So, if you want Led Zeppelin or Metallica or something harder, maybe look elsewhere.

10

‘Aja’ (1977)

Steely Dan

Steely Dan is a strange band, much of that coming about because they epitomize a genre that is genuinely called “yacht rock,” and because they’re literally called Steely Dan. Who calls a band Steely Dan? It turns out, there is a reason, or a source of that name, but if you go digging trying to find out, you might regret it. It’s a possible case of “the less you know, the better.”

Of all the Steely Dan albums, Aja tends to get brought up as their best, or maybe the album of theirs most worthy of classic status. It’s being included here because it is a mellow sort of rock that you kind of just put on and zone out to. So, the lyrics here don’t tend to be as affecting as what you might find on those hard-hitting Fleetwood Mac songs, nor some of the other albums mentioned here, yet the energy/vibe is kind of similar, and Aja was also released the same year as Rumours, so…

9

‘The Nightfly’ (1982)

Donald Fagen

Hopefully not too much of a hot take, but Donald Fagen’s solo album, The Nightfly, might be better than any of the other albums he did as part of Steely Dan. There’s even more of a lean toward pop here, over rock (rock of the yacht variety or otherwise), and it’s all almost a bit too smooth. Yet The Nightfly makes it work, or maybe it’s just that the shortcomings are easier to overlook when you’ve got a song as great as “I.G.Y.” kicking the whole thing off.

Lyrically, this one’s got quite a bit going for it, with the unusual and bittersweet way it looks toward the future, but from the past, and then you listen to it now, and it still sounds kind of futuristic lyrically, yet you put it in the past even more because it just sounds so ‘80s. Anyway, the rest of the album’s also very good. It shouldn’t be overlooked, just because it’s a Donald Fagen solo album rather than a proper/full-on Steely Dan one.

8

‘Tusk’ (1979)

Fleetwood Mac

Two years on from Rumours, Fleetwood Mac kept the momentum going to some extent, with Tusk, as there are songs here that are appealing in similar ways to many of the songs from Rumours, though it’s also a bit rougher and more intense at other times. It’s a double album, running for nearly 74 minutes, and with 20 tracks all up, so there are, pretty much literally, twice as many opportunities to play around and experiment a bit.

Tusk doesn’t experiment to the same extent as, say, the self-titled Beatles album that was also famously a double album, but nothing else in popular music history really does, so you can’t hold that against Tusk. Maybe Tusk is more comparable to the eclectic and ambitious London Calling, by The Clash, which is a great punk/rock album here, but harder to recommend when you’re specifically talking about Rumours-esque albums. For obvious reasons, Tusk is, on the other hand, not difficult to include here.

7

‘Graceland’ (1986)

Paul Simon

Very mellow as a rock album, and probably more pop, all the while also having other influences from a wide variety of genres, here’s Graceland, which could well be the best album Paul Simon was involved with (and that does include those he did while part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel). It’s musically creative and then lyrically, Graceland also tackles a whole bunch of topics, with some songs being socially conscious, and others being a little more introspective.

It feels like a product of its time, just not really in a bad way. Like, the quality of the songwriting and most of the production holds up; you can just tell, in some ways, it’s an album that’s now about four decades old (and counting). But then again, the thing still sounds great and largely delivers, so complaining about Graceland feels a little like nitpicking, in the end.

6

‘Tapestry’ (1971)

Carole King

The softness of the rock here is so soft it might well be a marshmallow, yet it’s still a classic and probably the kind of thing most people who like Fleetwood Mac would also like, so here’s Tapestry, by Carole King. It leans more toward the singer-songwriter side of things, with soft rock being a secondary genre, and it is quite mellow and gentle in sound, while having introspective and sometimes bittersweet lyrics that aren’t afraid to get emotional.

It was a classic of its time, and the sort of thing everyone over a certain age surely knows about, since it was monumentally popular in terms of sales and critical acclaim, yet King’s not always talked about as much in some modern-day online circles as much as Joni Mitchell (Blue could’ve gone here, yet describing that as being even rock-adjacent feels like more of a stretch than putting Tapestry in this spot).

5

‘After the Gold Rush’ (1970)

Neil Young

It was difficult here, as with Neil Young, After the Gold Rush does not feel as rock-focused as some of his other classic albums (like the kinda-sorta live album that is Rust Never Sleeps), though there is still some rock here. It’s folk rock, and occasionally harder rock, and often downbeat. Still counts, though. And it is indeed a gentle album and an oftentimes moving one as well.

Further, After the Gold Rush is an amazing album. It was originally at the top of this ranking, but then it was a bit like, “Wait, why put an album that good not near the end of the ranking, if it’s a ranking?” And “top” here means the bottom. Like, the bottom as in #10. And the top of the ranking is at the bottom of the page. #1 is the top of the ranking but at the bottom of the page. Confused? Just listen to After the Gold Rush, it’ll make everything feel okay again.

4

‘Hats’ (1989)

The Blue Nile

It’s hard to know what to say about Hats by The Blue Nile beyond being all, “Damn, this thing was really ahead of its time and stuff,” which isn’t very meaningful commentary, but it doesn’t make it wrong. It’s ahead of its time in some ways while also feeling very in line with certain traits associated with music in the 1980s, just in a unique way and with a certain atmosphere that sets it apart from its contemporaries.

The music here belongs to a genre called “sophisti-pop,” and that might make it far removed from rock, and even soft rock, yet it’s too emotionally stirring to not include here. Rumours is heartfelt and an emotional roller-coaster, and so is Hats. Further, Fleetwood Mac kind of dipped their toes into the sophisti-pop genre in at least a few songs on their 1987 album, Tango in the Night, so maybe that counts for something.

3

‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ (1970)

Derek and The Dominos

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs rocks the hardest of all the albums featured here, and so, yes, it probably qualifies most as “classic rock” in the traditional sense, and to a greater extent than Rumours. If the sound isn’t too Rumours, why include it, then? Well, lyrically, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is almost aggressively about love and its hardships (it’s in the album’s title and all), and so it works as a possible break-up album in a comparable way to Rumours.

The title track, “Layla,” demonstrates this particularly well, and it deserved to be part of the album’s title, since it is the clear standout moment on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. This is also the only album Derek and the Dominos ever released, but Eric Clapton, as the short-lived band’s short-lived frontman, has certainly done a good many other things in the world of rock over the decades, including doing his own solo/acoustic version of “Layla” that is straight-up not nearly as good as the Derek and the Dominos one.

2

‘Hounds of Love’ (1985)

Kate Bush

It feels a little silly trying to tie Kate Bush to any genre, though if you really want to argue that Hounds of Love is too far removed from rock (like, any kind), then you’re welcome to. But it’s here because it’s a moving and creative album that’s very easy to appreciate and enjoy, even when it’s being kind of unusual and even borderline-challenging (see the album’s second half, for example).

Hounds of Love also has some absolute all-timer tracks on it, with “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” being the inevitable standout, though “Cloudbusting” really isn’t too far behind, quality-wise. Whatever Kate Bush was doing here, it’s never really been replicated since. Words can only go so far, when it comes to Hounds of Love, and it’s as much of a classic for its decade as Rumours was for the entirety of the 1970s.

1

‘Steve McQueen’ (1985)

Prefab Sprout

Back to the sophisti-pop genre, with emotions being unapologetically broad and big, here’s Steve McQueen (don’t mix it up with that actor guy, nor the filmmaker of the same name), which is a bit more rock-focused than Hats. It’s got a bit of energy in some of its tracks, while also having mellower ones too, and the balance here is pulled off incredibly well.

The band behind Steve McQueen, Prefab Sprout, is not nearly as popular nowadays as Fleetwood Mac, but at their best, they do scratch the same itch, and Steve McQueen is ultimately the band at their best. The first half of this album is genuinely perfect, and then the second half being “merely” very good is forgivable. As far as gentle (and maybe even sentimental) pop/rock music of the ‘70s/’80s is concerned, it doesn’t get much better than this album.